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Five New or Updated Lexus Hybrids by 2012?

Posted by Kevin on November 23rd, 2010

Earlier this year, it was announced that Toyota would be releasing 6 new hybrids by 2012 (four from Toyota and two from Lexus), and now Automotive News is reporting that a total of 11 new or redesigned models will be available in that same timeframe, along with a new focus on turbochargers:

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to introduce 11 new or redesigned hybrid vehicles by 2012, but the carmaker is hardly neglecting the humble internal combustion engine.

Takeshi Uchiyamada, executive vice president in charge of r&d, also wants to increase the fleet’s fuel efficiency by putting turbochargers and direct fuel injection in smaller vehicles. “In the next five years, the general trend is downsizing of engines and the use of turbochargers,” Uchiyamada said in an interview. “Another development will be direct fuel injection.”

Of the 11 upcoming hybrids, four will be model changes of existing hybrids. The other seven will be new models, either stand-alone hybrids or hybrid versions of vehicles that previously didn’t have a gasoline-electric option, Uchiyamada said.

Turbochargers on downsized engines is obviously a trend in the industry, as is direct injection, and Toyota moving to this technology is essential to its competitiveness — exciting but not a huge surprise.

Of course, guessing new models is a fun game to play, so let’s speculate.

Let’s start with the four updated hybrids:

  • Lexus GSh: With the new redesign a year or so away, this is the safest bet.
  • Toyota Camry: Another safe bet,
  • Lexus LSh: Pushing it, but it’s not that big of a stretch to imagine a redesigned LS being released in 2012 as a 2013 model.

    • The last model was a challenge — after all, the new Highlander Hybrid has already been released and it’s doubtful we’ll see a redesigned RX or Prius so soon. This leaves the Lexus HS as the only other North American hybrid offered by Toyota, but it’s more likely that the final redesign would be a vehicle available in Japan (i.e. the Toyota Previa/Estima or Crown).

    As for the 7 (!!!) new hybrids for Toyota by 2012, we do know (by way of the New York Times) that 4 will be Toyotas and 2 will be Lexus. Now, if we were to assume that the seventh mystery model was a Lexus but that the CTh counted towards the total, my guess would be hybrid versions of the ES and IS, considering both models should see redesigns by MY 2013.

    What do you think?

    [Source: Automotive News]

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Comments
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    Nataraj
  • November 23, 2010
I agree, hybrid versions of the IS and ES are a safe bet. Im not sure if the turbocharging also applied to lexus, but maybe a Turbocharged I4 or 2.5L V6 for the base IS? Turbocharging the IS250 would be great to close the huge HP gap between it and the IS350.
W
The death of naturally-aspirated engines... :`-(
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    emptystreets130
  • November 24, 2010
Nataraj wrote:I agree, hybrid versions of the IS and ES are a safe bet. Im not sure if the turbocharging also applied to lexus, but maybe a Turbocharged I4 or 2.5L V6 for the base IS? Turbocharging the IS250 would be great to close the huge HP gap between it and the IS350.
That's why they offer the 2nd gen IS300 in some markets. It's a lot more cost effective than turbocharging the 2.5L. The 2nd gen IS300 makes 245hp using the 3GR-FSE motor, pretty much the same engine as the 250 and 350 but bored out. I knew Toyota/Lexus would go down this path. It's just a matter of time. Who knows, there could be another IS200 that makes more power than the IS250/300.
J
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    Jay
  • November 24, 2010
It would make a lot of sense for Lexus to give the next ES a hybrid engine similar to the next Toyota Camry hybrid. If they did that it would most likely be my next car :) As for the Toyota hybrids it's been speculated that the next Corolla and Matrix will also have a hybrid option. I also read an article a few months ago that said Toyota will provide the next Yaris with a hybrid option to better compete and undercut the Honda Fit and Insight hybrids. Oh and a Prius MPV has also been confirmed by Edmunds.com http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/10/spy-photos-2012-toyota-prius-mpv.html
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    Eljay
  • November 24, 2010
I think the next RAV4 is very likely to have a hybrid option. It'll also probably be a bit larger.The euro-version which has the shorter wheelbase has received some criticism for being a bit cramped. The Avensis may also be a possibility.
W
@Eljay: The Avensis hybrid would be the SAI but more "normal", I suppose. Wait... does that mean that the Japanese RAV4 L actually has an extended wheelbase, and it is the one we Americans get?
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    FreeSpirit
  • November 24, 2010
So my guess The re-designed 4 in 2012 GS HYBRID LS HYBRID CAMRY HYBRID BREVIA HYBRID The other re-designed hybrid from 2013 up to 2015 @ max. HIGHLANDER HYBRID CROWN HYBRID with the next generation Crown PRIUS HYBRID with the next generation Prius The new 7 up to 2012 ES HYBRID IS HYBRID CT HYBRID RAV-4 HYBRID PRIUS ALFA HYBRID PRIUS COUPE HYBRID YARIS HYBRID The new from 2013 to max. 2015 COROLLA HYBRID with the next generation Corolla SC romered to have only hybrid and to be in sale 2013 TUNDRA SUPRA
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    Eljay
  • November 24, 2010
WorldofLuxury wrote:@Eljay: The Avensis hybrid would be the SAI but more “normal”, I suppose. Wait… does that mean that the Japanese RAV4 L actually has an extended wheelbase, and it is the one we Americans get?
Yes,the American Rav4 is longer than the European one.I'd especially love an Avensis Hybrid with an extra electric motor for the rear wheels.
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    Joshd
  • November 24, 2010
As long as nothing happens to the RX450H I'm fine. :p
J
I took a stab at this guessing game on November 19 and 23 in a couple of articles for the Kaizen Factor blog: http://kaizenfactor.wordpress.com/2010/11/19/informed-speculation-the-7-new-toyota-and-lexus-hybrids-due-by-the-end-of-2012/ http://kaizenfactor.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/informed-speculation-7-or-11-the-other-4-upcoming-toyota-and-lexus-hybrids/
W
The current LS is definitely a whole lot better car than the first LS is, but even so, I wish the next LS will "wow" everyone as much as the first LS did! It would be nice if there would be more useful features - the self-parking is cool, but that's just for the few moments before we leave the car. ooo... and Lexus should go all-out with the LSh! or at least let us have lots of fun with a limitless L-Select program!!! I was dreaming last night of bringing home an LX with an interior on par with a Rolls Royce. :-)
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    Sim
  • November 29, 2010
I'd bet on IS being the seventh model. Since with CT lexus has started a game in europe too of changing clothes = new model, which was already a case in US for some time (prado-gx, prado150-lx, camry-es, etc.). So using the same powerplant with IS body is my guess. Since Toyota has promised to have a hybrid of each model, it might me the same strategy with lexus too, especially considering a thought to drop the IS diesel off the range. Also is possible that they count in wagon versions of the same models as two hybrids, there were speculations in IS becoming sedan and wagon.
krew
Sim wrote:I’d bet on IS being the seventh model. Since with CT lexus has started a game in europe too of changing clothes = new model, which was already a case in US for some time (prado-gx, prado150-lx, camry-es, etc.). So using the same powerplant with IS body is my guess. Since Toyota has promised to have a hybrid of each model, it might me the same strategy with lexus too, especially considering a thought to drop the IS diesel off the range. Also is possible that they count in wagon versions of the same models as two hybrids, there were speculations in IS becoming sedan and wagon.
I would agree, but I don't think we'll see a new IS until 2013 -- and I'm really hoping Europe gets a IS wagon! 8-)
krew
jruhi4 wrote:I took a stab at this guessing game on November 19 and 23 in a couple of articles for the Kaizen Factor blog: http://kaizenfactor.wordpress.com/2010/11/19/informed-speculation-the-7-new-toyota-and-lexus-hybrids-due-by-the-end-of-2012/ http://kaizenfactor.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/informed-speculation-7-or-11-the-other-4-upcoming-toyota-and-lexus-hybrids/
Thanks for sharing! :-)

K